Affordable housing is in the news across the country — from battles in Washington over federal funding cuts, to waiting lists opening in small Michigan cities, to big plans in New York City. Here is a look at what happened this week in affordable housing and Section 8.
Senators Push HUD to Speed Up a Process That's Slowing Down Home Building
Two U.S. Senators — Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) — joined forces this week to call on HUD Secretary Scott Turner to fix a slow and broken approval process that is holding back the construction of affordable housing across the country. The problem? A rule called "Build America, Buy America" (BABA) requires builders to use American-made materials for federally funded housing projects. That's a good goal. But when American-made versions of certain materials aren't available in large enough amounts, builders need to apply for a special waiver — and those waivers are taking months, sometimes more than a year, to get approved.
The senators say this delay is costing money and stopping homes from being built. They are asking HUD to communicate more clearly with housing developers, speed up decisions on waiver requests, and take stock of which building materials are in short supply. You can read about their bipartisan push to speed up affordable housing construction directly from Senator Shaheen's office.
House Committee Moves a HUD Budget Bill That Would Cut Housing Programs
On June 3, the House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines — 34 to 27 — to move forward a federal spending bill for the next fiscal year that would cut HUD's budget by more than $5.9 billion compared to this year. That's an over 8% reduction.
What does that mean for regular people? The bill, as written, would cut Public Housing funding by $1.3 billion, putting hundreds of thousands of low-income families at risk. It would also slash Homeless Assistance Grants by $256 million and cut Fair Housing funding by more than 43%. Only one in four households who qualify for federal rental assistance actually receives it today — so cuts this deep could make an already hard situation much worse. Housing advocates are urging people to contact their representatives and ask them to protect — not cut — programs like Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing.
Senators Reintroduce Major Bill to Build More Affordable Housing and End Homelessness
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-4) reintroduced the DASH Act — Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All — this week. This is one of the most ambitious housing bills in recent memory.
The DASH Act would push to house every person experiencing homelessness within five years, with families and children getting priority through Housing Choice Vouchers. It would strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, create a new Renter's Tax Credit, and establish a Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit for working- and middle-class families. For first-time homebuyers, the bill would provide a tax credit for down payment help — and for the first time, make that credit available before tax season so buyers don't have to wait.
Senator Wyden summed it up plainly: "We've got to build a lot more housing for working class and middle class families." The DASH Act to end homelessness and expand affordable housing still needs to pass Congress to become law.
California Updates Its Affordable Housing Income Limits for 2026
If you are looking for affordable housing in California, there's an important update you should know about. The California Department of Housing and Community Development released new income limits for 2026 for all 58 counties in the state. These income limits determine who can qualify for affordable housing programs — including those tied to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program income eligibility rules.
The numbers went up slightly across the board. For a family of four in Los Angeles County, the median income is now $108,100 — up from $106,500 last year. In the Bay Area, where tech industry wages are high, four counties now have median incomes above $200,000, with Santa Clara County leading the state at $205,500. Statewide, the median household income rose to $120,200. If your household income falls below certain percentages of these amounts, you may be eligible for affordable housing assistance.
New York Governor Breaks Ground on $130 Million Affordable Housing Project in Syracuse
Governor Kathy Hochul announced major progress this week on a $130 million project to turn the long-abandoned Syracuse Developmental Center — a 600,000-square-foot empty building — into a thriving neighborhood with hundreds of affordable homes.
Demolition of the old building is now complete, clearing the way for Phase 1 of construction to begin. This first phase will create more than 260 new apartments available to households earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income. The apartments will include studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, with amenities like a gym, laundry, and a community room.
When fully built out across three phases, the entire development could include over 500 units of both affordable and market-rate housing, a manufacturing facility, retail space, and 7.5 acres of green space. The project is being supported with state tax credits, bond financing, and more than $29 million from Empire State Development. You can read the full announcement about this affordable housing development in Central New York from the state's Homes and Community Renewal agency.
Over 1,100 Home Builders Storm Capitol Hill Demanding Action on Affordable Housing
More than 1,100 builders and housing professionals traveled to Washington, D.C. this week for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Legislative Conference. They met with lawmakers in over 300 meetings to push for changes that would make it easier and cheaper to build affordable homes.
Their top priorities included passing a major housing bill that would change zoning and permitting rules, addressing a shortage of more than 200,000 construction workers, and fixing a Clean Water Act permitting process that can take more than a year and delays many housing projects before a single nail is driven. The housing advocates calling on Congress to address the affordable housing crisis also want Congress to stop local governments from banning natural gas appliances in new homes — a policy they say raises building costs and limits choices for buyers.
San Diego County's Housing Authority Keeps Rental Assistance Alive — But Faces Shrinking Federal Funds
San Diego County's Housing Authority moved forward this week with a budget that will keep rental assistance flowing to thousands of families — but the numbers tell a difficult story. The Housing Authority's budget for the coming fiscal year is about $293.7 million, with nearly 99% of that going directly to housing payments. Almost all of the revenue — $281.3 million — comes from HUD.
The budget is actually $900,000 less than last year, mainly because federal Emergency Housing Voucher funding was cut. To make up for it, the county is leaning on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program to cover rising rental costs for families already receiving help. More than $21 million is paid every month directly to local landlords on behalf of voucher holders. David Estrella, director of the County's Housing and Community Development Services, said the budget is designed to maintain stability: "Every month, thousands of families in our region rely on this support to stay in their homes."
Newark Workshop Helps Section 8 Renters Become Homeowners
Here's some great news for families on Section 8 in Newark, New Jersey. NACA — the nation's largest HUD-approved nonprofit focused on homeownership — partnered with the Newark Housing Authority to hold a special two-day homeownership event on June 13 and 14.
The event was specifically designed to help people receiving Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers transition from renting to homeownership. NACA's mortgage program doesn't require a down payment, closing costs, or mortgage insurance — and they don't check credit scores. Even better: Section 8 voucher holders can actually use their voucher toward a mortgage payment instead of rent. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate offered at the event was 5.75% as of early June. Families who attended went through a homebuyer workshop, one-on-one counseling, and could qualify for a mortgage all in a single day.
Arizona Lawsuit Challenges Cities' Ability to Require Affordable Housing
A legal battle in Phoenix could have major consequences for how cities across Arizona create affordable housing. The Goldwater Institute, a libertarian think tank, filed a lawsuit against the City of Phoenix over a planned 64-unit affordable housing development near downtown. The project would serve people earning 60% or less of the area median income.
The lawsuit makes two claims: first, that Phoenix sold the land to the developer for too little (about $3.2 million below appraised value); and second — in what could be a first-of-its-kind legal challenge in Arizona — that the city violated state law by requiring affordable housing as part of its request for developers. Arizona is one of a small number of states that bans cities from mandating affordable housing in new developments. If the court sides with the Goldwater Institute, it could weaken a key tool that many cities use to increase their supply of affordable housing options for low-income renters.
Illinois Celebrates Small Housing Wins After Bigger Bill Fails
Illinois housing advocates had a bittersweet week. Governor JB Pritzker's flagship BUILD housing plan — which aimed to make it easier to build more affordable housing by changing local zoning rules statewide — did not pass the full legislature this session. But it wasn't all bad news.
The General Assembly approved $250 million in housing capital investments included in BUILD's framework, including $100 million for new housing projects and $50 million for first-time homebuyers. Lawmakers also extended and expanded the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which has helped create more than 26,000 affordable homes over its 25-year history. Advocates estimate the expanded credit will produce nearly 10,000 new affordable homes in Illinois over the next five years. Governor Pritzker said he plans to keep pushing for the full BUILD plan in future sessions.
New York City Mayor Moves Forward on Affordable Housing on City-Owned Land
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani continued his push to build more affordable housing this week. As part of his "Block by Block" housing plan — which aims to create 200,000 new affordable, rent-stabilized homes over the next decade — the mayor's administration has been identifying city-owned land that could be used for housing development faster than before.
A program called the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track is designed to pre-qualify affordable housing developers and cut the time it takes to start a project by up to two and a half years. The first three sites identified — in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens — could together deliver as many as 300 new affordable homes. The mayor's office is also working to reform the overall housing approval process to reduce red tape that slows down construction. You can read about the city-owned land affordable housing initiative in NYC from Business Insider.
What This Means for You
This week's news shows one clear thing: the need for affordable housing is real and urgent across the country, and both local communities and lawmakers are trying to respond — though the path forward is uneven.
From waiting list openings in Michigan to major investment announcements in New York, cities and states are stepping up in important ways. As we've covered in our own reporting on how cities and states are leading the way on affordable housing, the most progress often happens at the local and state level, even when the federal picture is uncertain.
If you are looking for Section 8 housing, waiting lists, or affordable apartments near you, stay connected — opportunities open and close fast, and being ready makes all the difference.
Navigating the Section 8 housing process can feel overwhelming, and that's where Section 8 Search comes in. We're more than just a listing website; we're a dedicated resource designed to make finding housing under the Housing Choice Voucher Program straightforward and stress-free. Our platform offers user-friendly tools to explore listings and waiting list statuses nationwide, all built on official HUD data. We're also passionate about providing clear, helpful information and guidance, empowering you with the knowledge you need to understand eligibility, complete your application, and confidently navigate your housing journey.
